About Say Cafe
Say Cafe is the product of one man's obsession with food that has seen him travel the world learning about cooking techniques and ingredients. This man, Carl Say, has created food that is best described as classic dishes with global twists. The company started life in Bristol and was focused on providing restaurant quality food for the takeaway market. However Say Cafe has developed into sit in restaurants while still providing food to takeaway.
Say Cafe is about fantastic food, with great service in a relaxed environment and all for prices that offer exceptional value for money.
Food Facts
Say Garlic!
Garlic was worshipped by the ancient Egyptians, chewed by Greek Olympian athletes and thought to be essential for keeping vampires at bay! The ancient Indians valued the medicinal properties of garlic and thought it to be an aphrodisiac, but it was not considered to be suitable food for the upper classes who despised its strong odour. It was also forbidden by monks who believed it to be a stimulant which aroused passions. Widows, adolescents and those who had taken up a vow or were fasting could not eat garlic because of its stimulant quality. So watch out! But it is also good for zapping bacteria, keeping your heart healthy, reducing high blood pressure, improving the immune system, warding off coughs and colds. So get stuck in!
Say Fresh Pasta!
We buy our pasta from The Fresh Pasta Company. The company is run by Mark Garcia-Oliver who loves his pasta almost as much as Carl! He explains "We define all our products as fresh because we do not use additives. Most supermarket so-called 'fresh' pasta is pasteurised or contains preservatives to extend the shelf life. We believe our pasta tastes better naturally fresh. All our pasta is handmade in our kitchen, so each batch is unique. We only use the finest Italian '00' flour and free range eggs for our pasta. So relax in the knowledge that Carl has sourced the finest ingredients with the finest suppliers to create exquisite cuisine."
Say Olive Oil! At Say Cafe we have a number of olive oils, so let me introduce you to:
Say Dill Oil!
A few thinks that you probably didn't know about Dill - it's a native of the Mediterranean region and Southern Russia. It grows wild among the corn in Spain and Portugal and upon the coast of Italy. Successful cultivation requires warm to hot summers with high sunshine levels; even partial shade will reduce the yield substantially. The name Dill is thought to have originated from a Norse or Anglo-Saxon word 'dylle' meaning to soothe or lull. So now you know!
Say Chilli Oil!
A few things that you probably didn't know about Chilli - Chilli peppers have been a part of the human diet in the Americas since at least 7500 BC and perhaps earlier. Chillis are loaded with Vitamin A, a potent antioxidant and boost to the immune system. Because of the high Capsaicin levels, some believe that eating Chillis may have an extra thermic affect, temporarily speeding up the metabolic rate, hence burning off calories at a faster rate.
Whatever - Chilli oil tastes fantastic so get pouring!
Say Olive Oil!
A few things that you probably didn't know about Olive Oil - it's a healthy oil because of its high content of monounsaturated fat (mainly oleic acid) and polyphenols. There is loads of evidence that suggests Olive Oil can reduce the risk of Coronary Heart Disease. It was has also been used as a cleanser for athletes (athletes in the ancient world were slathered in olive oil, then scraped to remove dirt).
Anyway it tastes great with garlic so pour it liberally over your pizza or pasta!